If the wilderness is one thing, it’s dirty.
If you’re attempting to survive in the wilderness, your chances dramatically improve if you can manage to keep yourself clean. In doing so, you’re better protecting yourself against infections and diseases.
Here’s some tips to help you improve your wilderness hygiene:
Sponge Baths
Sponge baths are one of the easiest and quickest ways to help you stay clean. Best of all, you can do it just about anywhere! Do this every evening after your daily routine and you’re certain to be the best smelling critter in the woods! All you need is water (can be carried from your cooking pan) and a sponge or rag. Scrub your feet, arm pits, and groin as these areas are prone to harboring bacteria.
Use the Air
Hang your clothes and sleeping out to bask in the sun and air every once-in-awhile to freshen them up. The elements will help kill stench causing bacteria which tend to gather while these materials are close to your skin.
Solar Powered Gravity Showers
If sponge baths aren’t your thing, you can class things up a bit by purchasing a solar powered gravity shower from your local outdoor retail store. These are easy to set up outside and only require things that you’d find in the wilderness to work – like sunshine and gravity! The sun heats up your water during the day so that you can enjoy a warm shower in the evening. Truly ingenious devices!
Swim
If you’re near a water source that is safe to swim in, jump in! The water will help git rid of dirt in hard to reach spaces better than any sponge bath or gravity shower will.
Picking a Soap
If you have choice, biodegradable soap is the way to go. But make sure it’s recommended for cleaning people as well as dishes. Why biodegradable? Because it’s safe to wash your body, hair, and teeth with, while also proving useful while shaving!
Don’t Neglect Your Hands
When in the wild, it’s easy to forget to keep one of your most important tools clean: your hands! Hands can unknowingly spread germs to your eyes, ears, nose, and eyes. Like your mom always told you, it’s important to wash your hands before dinner…and anytime else you get the chance.
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